Patti: I have become an e-book convert, and I am very excited to announce my first children's e-book picture book, called "Amanda and Max, Friends". The book can also be read on many devices such as the i-pad, PC, Kindles, Nook and android device, but what's really great about the Nook is that it is in color.

Everything came together to make this right time for me to delve into this venture. After spending the last couple of years in an SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) writing critique group, I wrote and designed a couple of books I felt were polished enough to move forward on.

When the economy hit the publishing industry hard, I started focusing more on my art licensing work instead. I really love the Amanda and Max characters, so I put the big orange tabby cat and the wee dachshund pup on an array of product design ideas. The images work beyond the children’s market since they are all about friendship, and the illustrations and words ring true for both adults and children. For instance there is a page with Amanda pushing Max on a swing. The page reads, "Friends give you a push when you need one".

When I started reading about illustrators creating apps and e-books of their picture books, it really lit a fire under me so I finished the art for "Amanda and Max, Friends".

Although I still love the feel of a real book in my hands, I can see the advantage of having a reading device instead. If you are traveling with a child, it’s great to have several books in an e-reader instead of dragging a stack of them around with you. It is just a different reading experience.

As a companion to my book, I have created a blog with the voices of my characters. I plan on putting up coloring pages soon, for kids to color, and then posting their art on the blog. I'm just getting started, but I have a lot of fun ideas to expand it.

It will be interesting to see how this ebook publishing experience evolves. Some of the apps I've seen are more like games with a lot of extra bells and whistles. My biggest issue with doing the e-book was with formatting. In the end I had to hire someone to do it. They put my book in an html file and converted it into e-pub and mobi formats (epub for the Nook, and Mobi for the Kindle).

I hope to follow this up with another Amanda and Max book. I am currently working on a second one with many fun animals, and I hope to have it available in a month.

This is so much fun! -Patti

PATTI RECOMMENDS

The Illustrated Sectionhttp://www.theillustratedsection.com/This site is dedicated to supporting artists, not only by helping them sell their works, but also by furthering art education and the business of illustration. That’s why the site also provides how-to’s, tutorials, and guides related to art.

E is for Bookhttp://eisforbook.comA coalition of respected children’s trade book authors developing their books for electronic media